Nike Responds To A 16-Year-Old Boy's Letter With Its Newest Shoe, The Flyease

Over 5 million Americans, for one reason or another, face challenges with what have been termed "activities of daily living." These activities include things many of us take for granted, such as bathing, dressing and walking.

Nike knows a thing or two about this. Bill Bowerman, the college track coach who co-founded the iconic shoe company, actually suffered nerve damage from inventing his famous shoes in a poorly ventilated workspace. His shoes were beloved by runners everywhere, but his own mobility was limited by his creation.

But a new breakthrough in how we actually put on athletic shoes came about because of a young man named Matthew Walzer. Cerebral Palsy made it basically impossible for him to tie a standard shoe, so when Nike received his thoughtful letter, they set about coming up with a revolutionary new way to aid Matthew in living independently as he prepares for college. The design was so successful, Matthew was brought in to help create a production version and even meet some of his fellow celebrity designers.